Royal The One Man (...Massive!!!.....)

Royal's recording history goes back to high school in Ottawa, performing with Splif(t) Reality alongside Red Pig (DwightRath), DJ Redaxe, and MC Buddorff, and releasing a cassette single with The Stuntman whose A-side, "The Gloucester Hydro," found its way into Ottawa nightclubs and college radio.

That early work led to a feature on Mad Love (Integrity Records, 1999), a Canadian hip hop compilation. Royal appeared on "Test" alongside The Stunt Man, Deception, and Zeus (RIP). The eleven-track collection also included Checkmate (with Concise), Social Deviantz (with Shorty Reck), 2-Tone, Shines 'N' F-Roc, White Plains, CIA, 2Ra, and Mr. Bigstuff, a roster spanning multiple Canadian cities and crews, alongside two acts who'd go on to national recognition: Moka Only and Swollen Members.

In Toronto, he performed as One Man in the duo The Irregularz with Eshbeats (then Esh), releasing two albums, Phototropizm and Deeply Rooted, through the city's underground circuit. He worked alongside Intricate Syndicate and shared stages with acts including MC Collizhun, Adversaree and Theo 3 (Camp X), Flight Distance, Eternia, and touring acts like Eyedea and DJ Abilities. Neither album saw wide distribution, and both are now rare, sought-after artifacts of that era.

That catalog continues today under the name Royal The One Man, drawing on a wide range of source material, including literature, world religious philosophies, science fiction, and new age mysticism. Now back in Ottawa, Royal continues working with Eshbeats (of We Need More Crates), his partner from The Irregularz. Tracks like "Supreme Wisdom" and "We Could Grow" mark the current chapter of the catalog, closing the loop on a partnership going back to that first cassette.

Upcoming projects will include production from Mr. Ilango, The Stuntman, Cool Cal, Baptiste Hayden, Eshbeats, and many others.